SE1850849A1 - Method and arrangement for managing power consumption in a mine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid. The method comprises obtaining information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids and obtaining information regarding expected power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. The method further comprises predicting one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption corresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold. Power utilization is scheduled for the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEl\/IENT FOR l\/IANAGING POWER CONSUl\/IPTION IN A l\/IINE TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to methods and arrangements for managing powerconsumption in a mine. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to method andarrangements for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine.

BACKGROUND During a planned cycle of mining operations, a number of different mining machines formining and rock excavation, e.g. face drill rigs, production drill rigs, loaders, haulers, dumpers,rock bolting rigs, cable bolting rigs and concrete spraying machines, are involved in differentphases of the mining operation in the mine. There will usually be a plurality of miningmachines performing mining operations in respective parts of the mine so that a first set ofmining machines are performing a first planned cycle of operations in a first part of the mine,e.g., in a first mine gallery, while a second set of mining machines are performing a secondplanned cycle of operations in a second part of the mine, e.g., in a second mine gallery. Theremay of course also be cycles of operations performed simultaneously in third and further partsof the mine, but for ease of reference the present disclosure will be describing a scenariowherein a first planned cycle ofoperations is performed in a first part ofthe mine and a secondplanned cycle of operations is performed in a second part ofthe mine. Aside from the miningmachines, there are fixed installation powered by electricity such as ventilation fans, hoists, lightning etc.

There is ongoing work in adapting mining machines to operate using electricity and morespecifically for, at least in part, operate in a battery-powered mode. The switch from fuel-powered machines to electrically and battery-powered machines increases the electric energyconsumption in the mine environment and with the increasing use of electrical power inmining operations, different parts ofa mine environment may be considered as a local powergrid. I\/line operations of a mine enviroment may be supported by proprietary power supplyof a mining company operating in the mine environment or by a power suppy from an external power company. ln its most general interpretation, the local power grid is the power grid providing power to the whole mine, i.e., representing the main power grid of the mine. Apower grid of a mine may comprise one or more transformer substations with gridinterdependencies that may vary. A first transformer substation may be considered to supplypower to a main power grid, while a second or third transformer substation, connected to thefirst transformer substation, represent local power grids in the main power grid of the firsttransformer substation. Furthermore, from a local grid perspective, a specific part ofthe mineenvironment e.g., a mine gallery will comprise direct loads, e.g., mining tools or machinesbeing electrically operated directly from the local power grid according to a planned cycle ofoperations, and indirect loads, e.g., battery operated mining tools or machines capable of being operated in an off-grid mode. ln the field of mining, the electric grids are often on the edge oftheir capacity or even under-dimensioned to meet the power needs of multiple, simultaneous mining operations,especially in cases where the cycles of operations imply intermittent power needs in thepower grid. Such intermittent power needs may be the result ofone or more mining machinesperforming stationary, high power operations driving one or more power tools of therespective mining machine, such as drilling, which results in high peak loads on the electricalpower grid in the mine environment. Furthermore, within an existing, already highly loadedmain mining grid, charging of a fleet of machines could lead to overloading especially whenperformed during times of operating other electrically powered tools in the mine environment.SUMMARY lt is an object of some embodiments to solve or mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate at least some of the above-identified deficiencies in the art or other disadvantages.

According to a first aspect, this object is achieved by a method for managing powerconsumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mineenvironment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid. The methodcomprises obtaining information regarding expected power consumption of direct loadsduring a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one or more local power grids. The method also comprises obtaining information regarding power consumptionof indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loadscomprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. Themethod further comprises predicting one or more time periods of high or low powerconsumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumptioncorresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumptionindicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption belowa predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, and scheduling a power utilization in theone or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods. ln some embodiments, the mining consumer is a mine, a part of a mine, a mine infrastructure, a mining machine or a part of a mining machine. ln some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of controlling a powerdistribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads basedon the scheduled power utilization. Optionally, the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow to one or more chargers for charging respective batteries.

According to embodiments ofthe disclosure, controlling ofthe powerflow to the one or morechargers comprises allowing a power flow to the one or more chargers for charging respectivebatteries during predicted one or more time periods of low power consumption. Alternatively,controlling of the power flow to the one or more chargers comprises restricting a power flowto the one or more chargers during predicted one or more time periods of high power consumption. ln some embodiments, the indirect loads comprise one or more inverters configured forreceiving a direct current from respective batteries. During time periods of high powerconsumption, the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow from the one or more inverters to the local power grid. ln some embodiments, the method further comprises determining power consumption in themain grid and controlling a power distribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the determined power consumption in the main grid.

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by an arrangement for managing powerconsumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mineenvironment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid. Thearrangement comprises processing circuitry configured to obtain information regardingpower consumption of direct loads during a predetermined cycle of operation in the one ormore local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumersconnected to the one or more local power grids. The processing circuitry is also configured toobtain information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one ormore local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one or more batteries for use inrespective battery operated mining machines. Furthermore, the processing circuitry isconfigured to predict one or more time periods of irregular power consumption during thepredetermined cycle of operation, and schedule a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods. ln some embodiments, the processing circuitry comprises multiple processors and wherein atleast one processor of the multiple processors is arranged in a local power grid. Optionally, the at least one processor is arranged in an indirect load of the local power grid.

According to a third aspect, the object is achieved by a computer program comprisingcomputer program code which, when executed cause an arrangement according to any of theembodiments of the first aspect to execute the method according to any of the embodiments of the second aspect.

Embodiments provide the advantage of enabling a balanced and optimized powerconsumption both in a local power grid with regard to the power consumption on the maingrid, i.e., the power consumption resulting from power consumption in a multitude of local power grids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSThe foregoing will be more readily understood from the following detailed description ofexample embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a power system of a mine according to prior art; Figure 2 schematically illustrates a power system according to the present disclosure; thepower system comprising at least one local power grid connected to a main grid; Figure 3 schematically illustrates an underground mine comprising a plurality of localpower grids; Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary method steps for managing powerconsumption in a mine; Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example arrangement configured for managing power consumption in a mine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings. The apparatus and method disclosed herein can, however, berealized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of thedisclosure only, and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms"a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. ln some implementations and according to some aspects of the disclosure, the functions orsteps noted in the blocks can occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. Forexample, two blocks shown in succession can in fact be executed substantially concurrentlyor the blocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality/acts involved. Also, the functions or steps noted in the blocks can according to some aspects ofthe disclosure be executed continuously in a loop. lt should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specificationis taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. ln the context of the present disclosure, the term "local power grid" refers to connectedequipment and components in a defined part of a mine environment, e.g., in a mine galleryor in a whole mine. ln its most general interpretation, the local power grid is the power gridproviding power to the whole mine, i.e., representing the main power grid ofthe mine. ln thecontext of a mine environment, there may be a plurality of local power grids that connect tothe main grid. Each local power grids may differ from the other local power grids with regardto mining consumers, e.g., equipment and components, comprised in the local power grid.Such equipment and components may comprise electrical mining machines, battery chargers,batteries, and electrical lines providing the connections between the equipment andcomponents of the local power grid and the main power grid. Such equipment andcomponents may also comprises ventilation equipment, lighting, and transport vehicles operated in the mine or other type of mine infrastrucutre.

As previously mentioned, in a mining context the main power grid is often on the edge of itscapacity or even under-dimensioned to meet the power needs of multiple, simultaneousoperations using electrically operated mining machines. This is especially true in cases wherethe cycles of operations imply intermittent power needs in the power grid. Furthermore,within an existing, already highly loaded main powergrid, charging ofa fleet of machines couldlead to overloading especially when performed during times of operating other electrically powered tools in the mine environment.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a local power grid 10 of a mine according to prior art. A partof the mine comprises an electrically operated mining machine 11 directly connected to abranch of the power system as well as a ventilation system 14. A battery operated miningmachine 13 is present in the local power grid and charging of the battery operated miningmachine is performed by a battery charger 12 comprised in the local power grid. Aswitchboard/arrangement 18 provides for power control in the local power grid in reaction topower load situations occurring in the local power grid. Thus, prior art system provides foroverload protection, e.g., applicable to the above explained power needs, but primarily as a means to protect the grid rather than to ensure operational capability.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates a local power grid 20 of a mine according to the presentinvention. ln the example scenario, the local power grid comprises an electrically operatedmining machine 21 directly connected to a branch of the power system as well as ventilationsystem 24. A battery operated mining machine 23 is present in the local power grid andcharging of the battery operated mining machine is performed by a battery charger 22comprised in the power system. Charging of the battery may be performed with the batterymounted in the battery operated mining machines, but charging of the battery may also beperformed when a fully charged battery replaces a depleted battery in the mining machineand the charging is performed for the battery per se rather than for the battery operatedcharging machine. The charging station may be used for charging a plurality of batteries thatmay be dedicated for use in respective mining machines or that may be provided for a batterypool of batteries applicable to a plurality of different mining machines. Additionally, the localpower grid comprises an arrangement for managing power consumption in the local powergrid. As illustrated, the arrangement may in part be comprised in the local power grid, butsuch location arrangement for the arrangement does not preclude the use ofthe arrangementfor also managing power consumption in further local power grids. The arrangement may alsobe arranged as a centralized entity configured to control power consumption in one or morefurther local power grids. According to some aspects of the present disclosure, thearrangement may at least in part be remotely operated from a centralized control facilitycapable of controlling operations in a plurality of local power grids. A switchboard 28 mayprovide for power control in the local power grid in reaction to power overload situationsoccurring in the local power grid. The arrangement and the switchboard may be co-located, but may also be provided as separate entities. ln the disclosure of Figure 2, the mining machines are presumed to be battery operated.However, a battery should in the context of the present disclosure be interpreted as an energy storage unit capable of being recharged by means of a connection to a power grid.

Figure 3 illustrates the power grid 30 for an underground mine comprising a plurality minegalleries A-D. The power grid 30 comprises at least one power supply 30a and a plurality oflocal power grids 30b arranged in respective mine galleries. The local power grids 30b may comprise indirect loads, here represented as batteries 32 for use battery operated mining machines 34 and direct loads, here represented as a single electrically operated miningmachine 33. An arrangement 31 is provided in an interface to the one or more local powergrids for managing power supply to the one or more local power grids. ln the illustratedscenario, battery charging stations are provided in each local power grid, e.g., in aneighbourhood of each battery operated mining machines. ln the schematic illustration,charging of batteries is configured to be performed when the batteries have been removedfrom the mining machines. Thus, the batteries also represents energy storages from whichpower may be retrieved and provided to one or more inverters to return power into the localpower grid. When connected to an inverter, the battery may be used to provide power to thedirect load when a power utilization plan indicates that the power consumption is close to itsmaximum capacity. Consequently, the batteries may be arranged to provide power within the local power grid, or to one or more further local power grids of the mine.

Power control performed in one or more local power grids, e.g., as illustrated in Figures 2 and3, will now be explained with reference to the flow chart in Figure 4. The person skilled in theart will understand that the presented method is applicable to the scenario disclosed in Figure2, but that the method is not limited to such a grid configuration, nor to the location of thearrangement suggested in the schematic disclosure of Figure 2. Consequently, the skilledperson will understand that the method may be performed by an arrangement arranged, atleast in part, within the local power grid or in an interface to one or more local power grids asillustrated in Figure 3, but that the method may also be executed by a centralized power unit.The disclosed method is applicable to the situation of managing power consumption in a partof a mine, e.g., in a mine gallery or in an open pit mine, wherein the local power grid isconnected to a main grid capable of providing a limited amount of power to one or more localpower grids. Thus, the disclosed method is advantageous when faced with a need to optimizepower consumption. The method is further advantageous in the scenario where there arepower consumption restrictions that need to be observed and where power consumption mayvary significantly, e.g., according to one or more cyclic power consumption patterns thatreoccurs on a regular and predictable basis. The cyclic pattern may represent a powerconsumption that varies according to time of day, week or following a predetermined number of hours of operation. ln its most general form, the method for managing power consumption in one or more localpower grids of a mine environment enables scheduling of power utilization in correspondingparts of the mine environment. The method comprises obtaining S41 information regardingexpected power consumption ofdirect loads during a predetermined cycle ofoperation in theone or more local power grids, wherein the direct loads comprise one or more miningconsumers connected to the one or more local power grids. ln the context of the presentdisclosure, the direct loads represent any type of electrical load directly powered from aconnection to the local power grid. Thus, in addition to electrically powered mining machines,the direct loads may comprises electrically operated infrastructure ofthe mines, e.g., lightingand ventilation, representing a fairly even base load. The mining machines usually operateaccording to work cycles. According to aspects of the disclosure, the method comprisesobtaining information regarding historic power consumption of the direct loads, e.g.,reflecting a work cycle. According to some aspects, the obtaining comprises deriving theinformation from a mine schedule or a scheduling system of the mine comprising such a mineschedule. The mine schedule comprises information relating to the energy/powerconsumption of each mining machine when performing a specific operation or part ofoperation. The mine schedule also comprises information relating to a planned cycle of miningoperations for a given period of time, e.g., for the next shift, 24 hours, week or any other applicable time interval.

The method also comprises to obtain S42 information regarding power consumption ofindirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loadscomprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines.According to aspects of the disclosure, said batteries may be charged for use in batteryoperated mining machines, but batteries may also be charged to increase the stability androbustness of the power grid. This is especially true for the scenario where the main powergrid is based on renewable energy sources such as as photovoltaic systems and windgenerators. According to aspects of the disclosure, the batteries may be comprised andcharged in the respective mining machines, or may be removed from the mining machines during charging at a charging station.

The method further comprises predicting S43 one or more time periods of high or low powerconsumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumptioncorresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumptionindicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a power consumption belowa predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, and scheduling S44 a power utilizationin the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted oneor more time periods. The threshold for peak power consumption, i.e., the peak powerconsumption indicating threshold, is set to represent a maximum allowed powerconsumption. During a time period when the threshold is reached, no further loads or powerconsumption will be allowed in the local power grid. During such a time period there may bea need to supply additional power to the one or more local power grids. The surplus powerindicating threshold is predetermined to reflect a power consumption level when there is asurplus power availability. According to aspects of the disclosure, the step of scheduling thepower utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads may further be based on the historic power consumption information.

The prediction of the time periods of high and low power consumption is based on theobtained information regarding expected power consumption of direct loads during apredetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids. The time periods ofhigh and low power consumption may also be determined using the above disclosed mineschedule, e.g., with a computing support of a scheduling system of the mine. According toaspects of the disclosure, the prediction may be made for a single local power grid, for aplurality of local power grids and/or for the whole mine. Consequently, power utilization maybe scheduled for a single local power grid and connected indirect loads, a plurality of local power grids and respective connected indirect loads or for the whole mine.

Turning back to Figure 3, power utilization may consequently be scheduled for the local powergrids of mine galleries A, B, and C-D individually or coordinated. For example, charging of thebattery 32a in mine gallery B may be scheduled to be performed at a time period differentfrom charging of batteries 32b in mine gallery C-D, and more specifically at a time period determined to represent a time period of low power consumption.

According to aspects of the disclosure the scheduling may include boundary conditions suchas maximum energy content level of each chargeable battery (above which charging is not anoption), minimum energy content level (below which discharge is not recommended), andcharge/discharge rate (which determines how fast charge and discharge ofthe energy storage may be performed.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the predicting comprises predicting the powerutilization over a period of time comprising at least one cycle of operation, i.e., predicting apower consumption representation that may comprise time periods of high powerconsumption, time periods of low power consumption and time periods of ordinary powerconsumption. These time periods may have different lengths in time and represent a powerconsumption during a cycle of operations within the corresponding part of the mine.According to aspects of the disclosure, the scheduling of the power utilization may comprisescheduling of battery cha rging activities within the local power grid during time periods of lowpower consumption. lt is advantageous to charge the batteries during a time period of lowpower consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, e.g., during such instanceswhen the electrically powered mining machines in the local power grid are operated in a lowpower mode or when the power consumption is low in at least one other local power grid.According to aspects ofthe disclosure, the arrangement may be configured as a control system with local control entities, e.g., associated with each battery charger.

The scheduling of power utilisation, i.e., creating a utilisation plan for the local grid, aims atoptimizing power consumption in the mine environment. ln the process of creating autilisation plan, available energy content in each accessible battery may be consideredaccording to aspects of the disclosure so that a decision to charge or discharge a battery is atleast partly based on the value ofthe available energy within the energy storage and the ability to receive power or deliver power.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the method further comprises controlling S45 a powerdistribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads basedon the scheduled power utilization. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the controllingcomprises controlling a power flow to one or more chargers, i.e., enabling a power flow to the one or more chargers for charging respective batteries during predicted one or more time periods of low power consumption and restricting a power flow to the one or more chargersduring predicted one or more time periods of high power consumption. The control of thepower flow may alternatively or additionally be performed by controlling power used in oneor more chargers. Thus, the charging station may be configured to execute the charge controlby itself. Such charge control may also, optionally be achieved, by a battery management system (BMS) of the battery.

According to further aspects of the disclosure, the controlling further comprises determiningan energy storage capacity of the respective batteries and controlling the power flow to the one or more chargers based on the determined energy storage capacity.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the method further comprises obtaining informationregarding the power consumption in the main grid and controlling a power distributionbetween the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on thedetermined power consumption in the main grid. Optionally, the scheduling of the powerutilization in the one or more local power grids comprises obtaining price information relevantfor the main grid, calculating a price per power unit depending on the expected or actual load on the grid and scheduling the power utilization based on the calculated price per power unit.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the indirect loads comprise one or more invertersconfigured for receiving a direct current from respective batteries. When the one or moretime periods of high or low power consumption are time periods of high power consumption,the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow from the one or more inverters to the local power grid.

Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example arrangement 50 configured formanaging power consumption in a mine by managing power consumption in one or more localpower grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more localpower grids being connected to a main power grid. The arrangement comprises processingcircuitry 51 configured to obtain information regarding power consumption of direct loadsduring a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, wherein thedirect loads comprise one or more mining consumers, e.g., mining machines, connected to the one or more local power grids and to obtain information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loadscomprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines. Theprocessing circuitry is further configured to predict one or more time periods of irregularpower consumption during the predetermined cycle of operation, and schedule a powerutilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

Figure 5 also illustrates an example computer program product 52 having thereon a computerprogram comprising instructions. The computer program product comprises a computerreadable medium such as, for example a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a plug-in card, anembedded drive or a read only memory (ROM). The computer readable medium has storedthereon a computer program comprising program instructions. The computer program isloadable into a processing circuitry 51 comprised in the arrangement 50. When loaded intothe processing circuitry 51, the computer program may be stored in a memory 51b associatedwith or comprised in the processing circuitry and executed by the processor 51a. According tosome embodiments, the computer program may, when loaded into and run by the processingcircuitry, cause execution of method steps according to, for example, the method illustrated in Figure 4 or otherwise described herein.

Thus, the computer program is loadable into data processing circuitry, e.g., into the processingcircuitry 51 of Figure 5, and is configured to cause execution of embodiments for managingpower consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of amine environment, when the computer program is run by the processing circuitry. Theexample arrangement of Figure 5 may, for example, be configured to perform method steps described in connection with Figure 4.

With reference to the schematic illustration of Figure 2, it is to be understood that thearrangement may, at least in part, be provided as a centralized, e.g., cloud based application.Such a cloud based application is configured to receive the obtained information relating toexpected power consumption of direct loads and the expected power consumption of indirectloads, e.g., by means of wireless communication, and to schedule the power utilization basedon the received information. Power utilization may be scheduled for local power grids within one mine environment or for local power grids of a plurality of mine environments.

According to aspects of the disclosure, the processing circuitry comprises multiple processorsand wherein at least one processor of the multiple processors is arranged in a local powergrid. Thus, the present disclosure also recognizes the possibility of a distributed solutionwherein respective processors, and optionally memories, may be arranged within respectivelocal power grids or within an indirect load of a local power grid. The processors of the localpower grids are connected, at least communicatively, to an arrangement that may beconfigured to coordinate the scheduling of a power utilization in the one or more local powergrids and connected indirect loads. The arrangement may be arranged at a location remote from the local power grids or the indirect loads.

The description of the example embodiments provided herein have been presented forpurposes of illustration. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit exampleembodiments to the precise form disclosed; modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various alternatives to theprovided embodiments. The examples discussed herein were chosen and described in orderto explain the principles and the nature of various example embodiments and its practicalapplication to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the example embodiments in variousmanners and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Thefeatures of the embodiments described herein may be combined in all possible combinationsof source nodes, target nodes, corresponding methods, and computer program products. ltshould be appreciated that the example embodiments presented herein may be practiced in combination with each other.

The described embodiments and their equivalents may be realized in software or hardwareor a combination thereof. The embodiments may be performed by general purpose circuitry.Examples of general purpose circuitry include digital signal processors (DSP), centralprocessing units (CPU), co-processor units, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and otherprogrammable hardware. Alternatively or additionally, the embodiments may be performedby specialized circuitry, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). The generalpurpose circuitry and/or the specialized circuitry may, for example, be associated with or comprised in an apparatus such as a wireless communication device or a network node.

Embodiments may appear within an electronic apparatus comprising arrangements, circuitry,and/or logic according to any of the embodiments described herein. Alternatively oradditionally, an electronic apparatus may be configured to perform methods according to any of the embodiments described herein.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning inthe relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used.

Reference has been made herein to various embodiments. However, a person skilled in theart would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the claims.

For example, the method embodiments described herein discloses example methods throughsteps being performed in a certain order. However, it is recognized that these sequences ofevents may take place in another order without departing from the scope of the claims.Furthermore, some method steps may be performed in parallel even though they have beendescribed as being performed in sequence. Thus, the steps of any methods disclosed hereindo not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly describedas following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. ln the same manner, it should be noted that in the description of embodiments, the partitionof functional blocks into particular units is by no means intended as limiting. Contrarily, thesepartitions are merely examples. Functional blocks described herein as one unit may be splitinto two or more units. Furthermore, functional blocks described herein as being implemented as two or more units may be merged into fewer (e.g. a single) unit.

Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any otherembodiment, wherever suitable. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. ln the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary aspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these aspects without substantially departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosureshould be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as being limited to theparticular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Hence, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments are merelyexamples brought forward for illustrative purposes, and that all variations that fall within the scope ofthe claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (14)

CLAlMS

1. A method for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprisedin corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power gridsconnected to a main power grid, the method comprising: - obtaining (S41) information regarding expected power consumption ofdirect loadsduring a predetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids,wherein the direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected tothe one or more local power grids; - obtaining (S42) information regarding expected power consumption of indirectloads connected to the one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loadscomprise one or more batteries for use in respective battery operated miningmachines; - predicting (S43) one or more time periods of high or low power consumptionduring the predetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumptioncorresponds to a power consumption above a predetermined peak powerconsumption indicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to apower consumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold,and - scheduling (S44) a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mining consumer is a mine, a part of a mine, a mine infrastructure, a mining machine or a part ofa mining machine.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of controlling (S45) a powerdistribution between the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the scheduled power utilization.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling (S45) the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow to one or more chargers for charging respective batteries.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein controlling the power flow to the one or more chargerscomprises allowing a power flow to the one or more chargers for charging respectivebatteries during predicted one or more time periods of low power consumption andrestricting a power flow to the one or more chargers during predicted one or more time periods of high power consumption.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining an energy storage capacity of therespective batteries and controlling the power flow to the one or more chargers based on the determined energy storage capacity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more time periods of high or low powerconsumption are time periods of high power consumption, the indirect loads compriseone or more inverters configured for receiving a direct current from respective batteriesand the controlling of the power distribution comprises controlling a power flow from the one or more inverters to the local power grid.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising determining powerconsumption in the main grid and controlling a power distribution between the one ormore local power grids and connected indirect loads based on the determined power consumption in the main grid.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprisesobtaining information regarding historic power consumption, and the step of scheduling(S44) the power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads s is further based on the historic power consumption information.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of scheduling the powerutilization in the one or more local power grids comprises calculating a price per powerunit in the main power grid of the mine environment and scheduling the power utilization based on the calculated price per power unit.

11. An arrangement (50) for managing power consumption in one or more local power grids comprised in corresponding parts of a mine environment, the one or more local power grids connected to a main power grid, the arrangement comprising processing circuitry (51) configured to: obtain information regarding power consumption of direct loads during apredetermined cycle of operation in the one or more local power grids, whereinthe direct loads comprise one or more mining consumers connected to the one ormore local power grids; obtain information regarding power consumption of indirect loads connected tothe one or more local power grids, wherein the indirect loads comprise one ormore batteries for use in respective battery operated mining machines; predict one or more time periods of high or low power consumption during thepredetermined cycle of operation, wherein high power consumption correspondsto a power consumption above a predetermined peak power consumptionindicating threshold and low power consumption corresponds to a powerconsumption below a predetermined surplus power indicating threshold, andschedule a power utilization in the one or more local power grids and connected indirect loads during the predicted one or more time periods.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry comprises multiple processors (51a) and wherein at least one processor ofthe multiple processors is arranged in a local power grid.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is arranged in an indirect load ofthe local power grid.

14. A computer program product comprising computer program code which, when executed cause an arrangement according to any of claims 11-13 to execute the method according to any of claims 1-10.